STC Templates of the Golden Age

Even after Cisrain finished his address, the enthusiastic subjects did not disperse.

Their fervor was like the star overhead—blazing and boiling.

Chief Financial Officer Mina listened intently to Governor Cisrain's speech, noting down key points that would serve as the direction for future fiscal proposals. Behind her, a secretary relayed essential information after receiving reports from subordinates.

"Understood. You may step back for now."

Only when the Governor walked toward them did she step forward to follow Cisrain, reporting the news she had just received.

"Lord Governor, we learned from the alien commander imprisoned on Tangle Planet that the Tau Empire has colonized several human-dominated worlds. Notably, on a forest world relatively close to Tangle Planet, they seem to have discovered some kind of technology from the Golden Age of ten thousand years ago."

"Ten thousand years? Golden Age technology? Is it an STC Template?"

"It is unclear, but they mentioned some kind of Golden Age AI technology—a technique they cannot comprehend exists on that planet."

"That must be it."

Just as he was nodding off, someone had arrived to provide a pillow.

With the current rate of human population growth, it was nearly impossible to mass-produce troops. The only way to rapidly advance technology was to expand colonies, take in more humans, build more factories, and utilize the Synapse Condenser to its absolute limit.

However, population growth here was constrained by various factors.

Managing conquered territories, drafting laws, and maintaining rule all required a massive expenditure of energy from Gamma World.

Yet, if there were an STC Template left behind from the Golden Age, it could turn an entire planet into a Forge World almost overnight. The efficiency of construction would increase countless times over, fully compensating for the shortcomings in human resources.

[Urgent Event: STC Template of the Golden Age]

[An ancient technological artifact from the Golden Age of humanity. Legend speaks of a super-artificial intelligence mastered during that era; even if a planet were devoid of people, activating an STC Template could automatically construct various production lines and required products. In the Dark Age, those who unearthed it would reap unimaginable rewards. However, its current location is not friendly to you; perhaps you should abandon it.]

The Imperium's Leman Russ Tanks, as well as some Warhound-class and Warlord-class Titans, were built from STC Templates excavated from such worlds.

A single Golden Age STC Template could even incite the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars or the Imperium of Man to launch a medium-scale crusade.

The value of such an item was self-evident.

"There is one more thing."

"Some extremists have broken into Utopia. According to their descriptions, they belong to a Death Cult and claim to be loyal servants of the Imperium of Man."

"..."

Death Cults.

These were extremist sects formed by the common folk of the Imperium. Some among them might worship the Blood God, some might worship The Emperor, and others might revere the skeleton sitting upon the Golden Throne as the God of Death.

The actions of these cults were extremely radical: skinning, blood-drinking, slaughter, and torture.

Their self-mutilation and massacres were enough to shock even the Blood God of Chaos.

These were the dark side of the Imperium. The Imperium did not acknowledge their existence, yet they understood they would never be recognized. Thus, their value lay in being used by those in power as assassins or scapegoats. This negligence even fostered the growth of Corpse-worshipping Cults and other, more extreme sects.

Some followers of these Death Cults possessed such superb martial arts that they could, with mortal strength, kill a Space Marine.

Utopia had no contact with the outside world; it was impossible for Death Cults to appear there. Yet, suddenly, so many had emerged.

There was no need to overthink it; this was inevitably linked to a Rogue Trader.

However, compared to a Golden Age STC Template, these fellows had little value.

"Dispose of those people."

As for the Rogue Trader?

"Dispose of them as well!"

He had too many important matters to resolve at the moment; he had no time to play games of shadow assassinations and political maneuvering with them. As for recruiting them, it was better to cultivate his own people.

Cisrain continued toward the Governor's Mansion, pondering more significant matters. These trifles should not occupy his planning.

"Cyrus's squad has already taken the initiative to head there."

Cyrus and his team had taken the initiative?

Leave those people to them.

A Rogue Trader's ship usually carried some low-born laborers.

Although their numbers were not large, their years of working on ships made them better adapted to the mining and factory work on Tangle Planet than the average worker.

"They can handle everything. As for the rest, send anyone with value to Tangle Planet for mining. Once the mission is complete, have everyone come to the Governor's Mansion for a meeting."

"Understood." Mina nodded. The Governor was maximizing the rational use of personnel. As for how to arrange them, the Social Administration Department had relevant regulations.

Watching the Governor's hurried back, followed by the heads of the Administrative and Military Departments, Mina felt the weight of her role.

As Chief Financial Officer, she had to participate in every task.

The economy and resources spent on every project had to pass through her hands.

"The debt ceiling carried by Gamma World is already stretched too thin. It seems that only by securing the Golden Age technological artifact can we alleviate the fiscal pressure. Otherwise, before we can even counter-attack Chaos, Gamma World's finances will go bankrupt first. I hope the information obtained from the alien brings us enough value."

On the Rogue Trader's fleet.

Cyrus rode a landing craft, flying toward the Rogue Trader's fleet.

In the boarding actions against the Tau Empire, they had already gained a wealth of experience in seizing and commandeering ships.

"Captain, Talon has killed a retainer of the Byrne Dynasty."

"Byrne Dynasty? There seems to be no record in the database."

"Then ignore them. They have already been corrupted by Chaos. Cleanse those infected by Chaos, then see what else on the ship can be used. Maglin, do you sense anything?" Cyrus looked at Maglin. Maglin was the Space Marine in the team with the strongest psychic talent. To avoid corruption, Maglin communicated frequently with the Chaplains of the Blood Raven Chapter and even had the potential to become the next Chaplain.

"Nothing."

If Chaos deliberately hid itself, it was very difficult for a psyker to sense it.

It seemed the prototype device the Governor gave to Talon was indeed useful.

It could detect Chaos forces that Maglin could not.

If every Space Marine were equipped with such technology, its effect against Chaos would be no less than adding ten Astartes Legions to the human side.

It was a pity that manufacturing such things required alien technology from a Necron Tomb World.

And the few Tomb Worlds they currently knew of were quite far away; the difficulty of raiding their tombs was too high.

[Collision Imminent]

Everyone pulled back their thoughts.

The landing craft slanted and pierced into the Rogue Trader's fleet.

Hiss—!

The sound of the hatch activating rang out.

A red figure was revealed.